Is it true that Calcium Supplements Can Cause Dementia?

Medical Video: Healthy Dose: Calcium Supplements Linked to Dementia Risk in Some Women, Study Finds

Calcium needed in one day for adult needs is 1000 to 1200 mg. Calcium needs are rather difficult to obtain if you only rely on eating calcium-source foods, therefore the recommendation to consume calcium supplementation appears to meet those needs. But did you know that taking calcium supplements can cause dementia?

What is dementia?

Dementia is a symptom of a decrease in physiological function, in the form of a decrease in thinking, counting, making decisions, understanding, and remembering. These symptoms usually occur in older people and the risk increases with age. Based on WHO data in April 2016, in the world there were at least 47.5 million people experiencing dementia and 7.7 new cases per year. Dementia is a major cause of bodily disability and functional deterioration in the elderly in the world.

Dementia occurs due to damage or death in brain cells. Of course the natural aging process does not cause dementia. Dementia occurs by a variety of causes, one of which is due to blockage of blood vessels in the brain, so the brain does not get food properly and ultimately decreases the body's function. Dementia caused by blockage of blood vessels in the brain is also called vascular dementia. Of all dementia cases, at least 20% of cases of dementia occur due to blockages in blood vessels in the brain. In addition, pstroke and atherosclerosis are also risk factors for dementia in the elderly.

Research on calcium supplements and dementia

The study, which was conducted for approximately 5 years, involved as many as 700 women aged 70 to 92 years. At the beginning and end of the study, CT scans were performed on the brain and examined their cognitive functions. Then from the results of the study it was found that women who consumed calcium supplementation were twice as high as dementia compared to women who did not take calisum supplements. Even groups of women who have a history of stroke have a higher risk of dementia if they take calcium supplementation. At least the group had a seven times higher risk of dementia compared to a group with a history of stroke but did not consume calcium.

Another study that examined the association of calcium supplementation with the incidence of dementia and vascular health was a study conducted by the Women's Health Initiative Calcium / Vitamin D study, which conducted 7 years of research. From the study stated that the use of calcium and vitamin D supplementation could actually increase a woman's risk of various heart diseases and dementia when the elderly.

Why can calcium cause dementia?

Calcium is one of the micronutrients whose role is very important in the brain because it functions as a connector and a signal that is delivered to the brain, maintains the suppleness of the brain, and regulates various metabolism in the body.Even though there is still little research and scientific evidence currently available to prove that calcium supplementation can cause dementia, several studies have concluded that consumption of calcium supplements that often can affect the buildup of 'plaque' in blood vessels, and if this happens in the brain, it easily triggers strokes and dementia.

Calcium actually plays an important role in the process of cell growth and death in the body. In the study, it was estimated that calcium obtained from supplements could increase calcium levels in cells quickly and could cause these cells to die. Therefore, this increase in calcium can increase death and cell damage in the brain which then causes dementia. In addition, high calcium in the blood is also associated with constriction and deposition that occurs in blood vessels. When the narrowing of the arteries occurs, then the brain does not get the intake, so over time the cell tissue in the brain becomes damaged and dies, then dementia occurs.

Calcium from food is different from calcium from supplements

In the study also said that the effect of consumption of calcium derived from supplements is different from the consumption of calcium from food ingredients. Consumption of calcium supplements has a higher risk of damage and death in cells. However, further research is still needed to prove whether calcium supplementation can cause dementia in women.

READ ALSO